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Tuesday, 30 August 2011

There is a new challenge today at Top Tip Tuesday, and the theme to play along with this week is "Shabby Chic". This is not in my normal comfort zone so I've really struggled to make something that I'm happy with here. But in case you feel the same as I did, there is loads of inspiration on the TTT challenge blog as each DT member has provided not only their fab creation, but also a photo which inspired them.

We're sponsored by Digital Delights who have kindly supplied some digi images for the design team to showcase.

Monday, 29 August 2011

This challenge has given me a great excuse to play with my plain little baggies again. These are the bags that I bought from the lovely Sandy at Hugs & Holidays a few months ago, and because they come in a set of 6 for just £1.55 plus P&P, then they are great to use for wrapping little presents. I decided that I couldn't buy a gift bag in the "pound store" for less than these little baggies, and if I decorate them myself then it makes them so personal.

This time I've created 2 Christmas themed bags using the range of rubber stamps from Stamp Fairy, available from Marianne Designs.

My local craft shop stocks these stamps, but I've researched and found they are also available online at My Craft To You for £3.25 plus postage, or at Bunny Zoe Crafts for £3.95 plus postage.

I stamped the image onto my baggies and decorated them with ribbon, lace, buttons and Stickles. For full details on how I've done these bags, please pop over to StampFairy to download my tutorial. It contains lots of tips for stamping on fabrics based on my experience with these, so you don't need to make the same mistakes that I did !!!

Anyway, here's my little baggies. I got a bit carried away and made 2. I think the second is my fave as I just love that huge bow in the gorgeous wide ribbon from Fantastic Ribbons. I'm fairly proud of how the bow turned out, but if you want to know the secret, it is wired ribbon, so you can tweak the position of the bow and it will stay in place !

There is also a new release at StampFairy today - Barry Pumpkins. See the preview of the new set below.

There is a new challenge today at Incy Wincy, and the theme to play along with this week is "Diamonds and Pearls"

We're sponsored by Sassy Studio who have kindly supplied some digi images for the design team to showcase. This image is actually called Frostina (presumably for Christmas) but I guess it could be used for any occasion as I've not put a specific sentiment on it.

Saturday, 27 August 2011

There is a new challenge today at 2 Sisters Challenges, and the theme to play along with this week is "Boys and their Toys"

We're sponsored by Stamp Fairy and I've chosen to use an image from the collection called Tommy Sports to showcase. There are loads of great male themed images in the StampFairy shop which is great for someone like me who needs all the inspiration I can get for male cards. I may possibly be a bit addicted to Stamp Fairy images !!! LOL.

I've opted for a clean and simple card today, which I think is better on male cards. I'm usually too heavy handed with the pretty flowers and glitz, so have had to restrain myself on this one.

Tuesday, 23 August 2011

There is a new challenge today at Top Tip Tuesday, and the theme to play along with this week is Masculine cards. This is a great opportunity to make a card for my Dad's birthday which is at the beginning of September. I've used a Dustin Pike image which I rarely get chance to work with, but I think they make great masculine cards.

My dad will never tell me what he wants for his birthday. He always says that he doesn't want anything. While this may be sweet, it makes it a real pain to buy him a gift, cos I'm always going to get him something.

So he usually gets ends up with either camping gift vouchers (cos he goes away with the Camping Club about 5 weeks a year now he is retired and has built himself a camper van) or he gets a new item of clothing (cos quite frankly some of his items are beyond the stage of being 'on their way out', and he doesn't seem to ever replace them under his own steam.)

Monday, 22 August 2011

There is a new challenge today at Incy Wincy, and the theme to play along with this week is 'Not a Card'.

We're sponsored by the beautiful images of MelJen Designs who have kindly supplied some digi images for the design team to showcase.

I made a 2 boxes out of card, one slightly larger than the other so they fitted together as base and lid. I then cut a nestie label and stuck one onto the base (so the patterned side was stuck to the base so it shows when the box is the right way up) and the other label to the lid which I then decorated.

Wednesday, 17 August 2011

After my first play with Toby Everyday Angel yesterday and the pink fluffy stuff I used on the cloud, I decided to have another go, this time using white for the cloud instead.

This card is a real collection of my favourite things; the cutest image, the scalloped circle shaped card, the girlie pink colour,pretty flowers, pearls, papers, swirl, and my all-time favourite ribbon from Fantastic Ribbon (which I've just ordered 2 more reels of. I must ensure I don't run out !)

I'm also rather proud of this sentiment which is one of my own (see my freebies page if you want to grab it).

The only thing that is disappointing is that I'd ordered some new charms at the weekend which included some really cute baby themed ones. I'd hope to use one of those here, but unfortunately they've not arrived in time to get this post done, so I've opted for a little silver leaf instead, which is still cute.

I had a bit of a crafting spending spree at the weekend, which is a bit naughty as I'm on unpaid leave this week (I wanted some extra holiday this year to match hubby's lengthy school hols), so not only am I not earning anything, but I've also got more time on my hands to shop more !!! I ordered loads of charms, pretty brads, some ribbons and a few other bits and bobs. Nothing major, but it all adds up, so really need to tie up the purse strings for the rest of the week, and try to behave myself. A quick peek at the credit card bill should shock me back onto the right track again !!

Anyway, I digress. Here is a close up of the image with the fluffy cloud and glittered wings. Isn't he just the cutest :

I'm also excited because it has given me an opportunity to play with a new StampFairy image that had been on my wish-list for a while. He is Toby Everyday Angel, and the moment I saw him, I could just see him on a baby card. Even though I don't know anyone who is having a baby (doh!)

He is adorable. Also, I've used some new Woodware Fluffy Stuff which I just love. I have only previously used white though, and got some blue and pink last week so have used that as I wanted a cute baby themed card. I wasn't sure about the pink after I used it, but I think it is growing on me.

Here's the sketch we've been provided with :

And here's my card :

And a close up of the pink fluffy cloud (really like this soft textured effect) :

I hope to see you all join in the Tuesday Morning Sketches and please pop over to the challenge blog to see the other fab designs by the other DT members who are joined by some more of my Stamp Fairy teamies.

Monday, 15 August 2011

There is a new challenge today at Stamp Fairy Challenge Blog, and the theme to play along with this week is Back to School. I'd seen this little back pack that I'd wanted to have a go at, and this theme seemed the perfect opportunity to try my luck at a bit of 'origami'! It was actually easier than I had expected, and I don't think it is too bad for my first attempt.

There is a new challenge today at 2 Sisters Challenges, and the theme to play along with this week is a sketch by our very own Mary. We're sponsored by Patties Creations who have kindly supplied some digi images for the design team to showcase.

Here's my card: I hope you think it is all 'white' !!! (get it !?!)

This is a real move away from my safe place. No colourful designer papers, not a marker pen or nestie in sight, and no freebie circle sentiments. I may have to go and lie down as I'm feeling feint from withdrawal symptoms.

Tuesday, 9 August 2011

There is a new challenge today at Top Tip Tuesday, and the theme to play along with this week is "straight lines".

We're sponsored by Robyn's Fetishwho have kindly supplied some digi images for the design team to showcase. I'm using Five Little Froggies. And I've made a sentiment to match which says "Wishing you will get well soon", but I've put the two words "Wishing" and "Well" in different fonts so they stand out, ie "wishing well" which is what the image is. Geddit??? !!! Oh dear. I'll get my coat!

Freebie:
As promised above, here is my Sentiment freebie that I've used above. You're free to download it if you like it; click on the image for a larger version, then right click and 'save picture as' to save to your own computer.

My conditions are as follows:

Please become a follower, then you will see more freebies as they are posted,

Please leave a comment on this post to let me know you've downloaded it, and

There is a new challenge today at Incy Wincy, and the theme to play along with this week is Something Old, Something New.

We're sponsored by Digital Delights who have kindly supplied some digi images for the design team to showcase and I've opted for a shaped card again today.

My 'something old, something new' theme is along the line of colouring mediums. When I first started stamping, I bought some Twinkling H2O watercolour paints. They were all I had, and I only had 18 colours (about 9 shades of brown for teddies, and 9 other colours for everything else!!!) I still have them, but they don't come out to play much now that I have progressed to Promarkers and Copics, and sometimes I kinda miss them. They were my 'old faithfuls'. So this challenge was a great excuse to fish them out and get painting. Ok, so that's my 'something old'. What about my something new? Yeah, I admit it, I sneaked some Copics in when I coloured Mr Gnome's face! But this is a real mix of colouring mediums because I also got some shimmer chalks in the background too !!!

Friday, 5 August 2011

It is Friday so there is a new release and freebie today at Stamp Fairy. Today's set is Lenny Ornaments and matching freebie, so make sure you pop over to the Stamp Fairy site to steal it!

Here is a card I've made using one of the cute digis from the newly released set. I paper pieced the main bauble in blue snowflake paper, coloured Lenny's nose and paw pads in blue to match, added the Stampfairy freebie bauble hanging it from a punched and glittered snowflake.

I glittered up a blue swirl die cut, and added a matching sentiment in a fancy snowflake font that I bought recently, and glittered that too!!!

I hope to see you all join in the P for Presents (with photo inspiration) challenge at ABC Christmas, and please pop over to the challenge blog to see the other fab designs by the other DT members who are joined by some more of my Stamp Fairy teamies.

Monday, 1 August 2011

There is a new challenge today at Stamp Fairy Challenge Blog, and this week is a colour challenge, one of my faves as I just love pastel colours, Turquoise, Purple and Pink.

My papers were turquoise, lilac, and pink, I coloured my images in the same 3 pastel colours, added some snowflake punched shimmer paper with purple ribbon, stuck on the punched out snowflakes back onto the image, added some purple flowers, glitter (everywhere!!) and purple pearls.

I even added a sentiment in a funky snowflake font in the same challenge colours. The little scallop at the top is also the 'leftovers' from the snowflake punched border!! In true crafting style, nothing was wasted !!!

And, as with most of my fave cards, I got carried away and decorated the inside too!!!

About Me

Following on from 2017's attempt at crafting resolutions my 2018 are as follows: 1) Make a minimum of three Christmas cards per month including one masculine,
(2) For every card using a newly purchased image, make two featuring an previously-used image.
Wish me luck! (I'll need it)